Improved divided-axle for railways



CUMMINGS, PATTEE & SHAW.

Car Axle for Railways.

. No. 84,264. Patented Nov. .24, 1868' gamut DANIEL M; CUMMINGS, WYMAN PATTEEQAND ALBERT SHAW,

OF ENFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Letters Patent No. 84,264, dated November 24, 1868,

IMPROVED DIViDED-AXLE FOR RAILWAYS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making partcof the lame.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DANIEL M. CUMMINGS, WY- MAN PATTEE,-El-Il(l ALBERT M. SHAW, of Enfield, in the county of Grafton, and State of New Hampshire, have invent-ed a new and improved Sectional Oar-Axle and we do hereby declare that the following is afull and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which constitutes a portion of this specification.

Our improved car-axle is composed of two axle-sections, c and b, united to eaclrother by a coupling, 0 (l, in such a manner that, whilst either axle-section can be rotated independently of the other, neither of said sections can be oscillated within its said coupling; and this longitudinal rigidity is a distinguishing and valuable feature of our said improved car-axle.

The section 0 of the axle-coupling is rigidly secured to the inner end of the section a of the car-axle by forcing said axle-section int the aperturcin the couplingseetion, when the latter is in a highly-heated condition, or the said rigid connection between the axle-section a and the coupling-section 0 may be made in any other suitable manner.

The axle-section b is of an inwardly-taperii1g shape, and is, by a grinding-process, accurately fitted into a correspondingly-tapeiing longitudinal aperture in the coupling-section d. Astraightsided portion ofthe axlesection 7) passes thronghand beyond the inner end ofits coupling-section, (Z, and a sorew-tln'ead, out upon that portion of said axle-section, receives a screw-nut, h, which serves to securely unite the said axle-section b to its coupling-section, (I. For the purpose of greater security, we shall generally place two nuts upon the screw-portion of the axle-section b, and then a washer, i, within the same.

The portion of the coupling-section c which projects beyond the inner end of the axle-section a, is the shape of a thickesided tubular chamber, having screw-threads cut in its inner periphery for about one-half the depth thereof.

The coupling-section (Z is of such a diameter that the screw-threads formed on a portion of the outer periphery thereof will fit accurately into the screw-threads on the inner periphery of the coupling-section c, the chamber within the latter coupling-sectionbeing of ample depth and dimensions for the reception of the screw-threaded portion of axle-section b, and the nuts and washers there upon. At the termination of the screw-thread on the outer periphery of the coupling-section (I, a ledge, j, radiates from the same a distance equal to that of the thickness of the sides of the tubular chamber of the coupling-section c, and a series of holding-screws, ff, pass through perforations in this ledge, j, and into tapscr'ew apertures in the outer face of the sides of the tubular portion of said coupling-section c, as clearly shown in the accompanying drawing.

To prevent any lateral action upon the car-wheels from jannning the axle-section I) so tightly within its coupling-section (I, as to prevent the rotation of said axle-section within the said coupling-section, we place a bearing-disk or washer, e, at the bottom of the chainbcr in the coupling-section c, of j ust sufficient thickness tobear firmly against the face of the inner end of the said axle-section b, when the two axle-sections a and b are securely coupled to each other in the manner represented in the accompanying drawing, and heroin partieularly set forth.

Whenever there may be any signs of looseness in the fit of the coupling-section (1, upon the axle-section b, the coupling-sections (NZ should be uncoupled, and the connection between the said coupling-section (l and the axle-section b can then be made perfect by turning forward the nut or nuts h upon'the screw-portion of said axle-section, and, at the same time, it may be necessary to reduce the thickness of the disk or washer c.

In the crmstruction of our improved sectional caraXle, we wish it to be understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves to exact proportions of parts or precise details ofconstruction, as the same may be considerabl y varied, without departing from the nature and principle of our invention.

Having thus fully described our improved sectional car-axle,

What we claim therein as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

Uniting the axle-section b with the coupling-section (Z, by fitting a tapering portion of the former into the tapering bore ofthe latter, and then employing a screwnut or nuts on the inwardly-projccting end of said axlesection, when the said coupling-section d is combined with its matching coupling-section c, substantially in the manner herein set-forth.

\Ve also claim the arrangement of a properly-proportioned disk or washer, 0, within the coupling-box of our improved car-axle, in such a position as to prevent any lateral action that may be exerted upon the car-wheels or axle from injuriously jamming the tapering portion of the axle-section 1) within the couplingsection (I, substantially as herein set forth.

The a-tbregoing specification of our improvement in railway-car axles, signed and witnessed, this 2d day of September, 1868.

DANIEL M. OUMMIN GS. WYMAN PATTEE. ALBERT M. SHAW. Witnesses;

A. LANGMUIEL, LUTHER O. MORSE. 

